Summary:
Nashik: A day after the villagers of Devsane in Dindori taluka protested by allegedly locking up an MLA and two government officials in a temple, the district administration on Tuesday vowed to look into the demands.The administration, however, condemned the villagers for their uncivilised way of protesting over the water shortage issue.When the irrigation department had undertaken a project in that village, the residents had requested the authorities to make small bunds so that water was made available for their daily requirements. They alleged that the authorities did not heed their requests and went ahead with the project.District collector Radhakrishnan B said, “If their demands are genuine, the district administration will surely consider them and act accordingly.”The district collector was critical of the villagers who allegedly kept Dindori NCP MLA Narhari Zirwal, a government engineer and the chairman of the building construction department of zilla parishad Eknath Gaikwad in confinement in a local temple for some time.“The villagers should not have acted in such a manner,” the collector said.Officials of Wani police station said that on Monday, over 200 villagers vented their anger on the trio when they visited the village to discuss the issue.During the meeting on on the temple premises, the villagers questioned the MLA and the two others about the lack of provisions to ensure water when the project was undertaken.The villagers claimed that they were severe shortage of water as the wells as well as tube wells have dried up.“Later, all villagers who took part in the meeting came out of the temple premises and closed the gate while leaving the trio in confinement for about two hours,” said police.After being informed, the local police and the tehislidar rushed to the spot and pacified the villagers, following which the trio was released.No case has been lodged against the villagers in the local police station..